Featured Phonograph No. 119 Expert Minor Gramophone

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
Post Reply
Garret
Victor IV
Posts: 1522
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:07 pm
Location: Lille, France

Featured Phonograph No. 119 Expert Minor Gramophone

Post by Garret »

Make: Expert
Model: Minor
Serial #: N/A- case not marked
Year(s) Made: 1930-1932
Number Produced: unknown
Original Cost (1930): £20
Case/Cabinet Size: Cabinet 11 ¾" H x 17 ½" D x 23 ¼" W
Turntable/Mandrel: 12 inch turntable
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Expert two-spring
Motor: two spring Paillard GGR 255
Horn Dimensions: 18" in diameter at the bell
Reproduction Parts: none
Current Value: $2,500-3,000
Interesting Facts: This particular example was located in Charlotte, North Carolina about two years ago and has been completely restored. While the cabinet is not marked as an Expert, it bears the same unique feet that can be found on page 54 of Frank James's The EMG Story. Everything points this to being an Expert Minor. This particular example sounds quite nice, and was an amazing find, to say the least.

Video link: https://youtu.be/F_J8BpqmRqk(absence of bass due to microphone)

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by Garret on Sun Sep 27, 2015 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Damfino59
Victor II
Posts: 349
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:37 pm
Location: Stillman Valley, IL

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119

Post by Damfino59 »

That came out nice! Patience has its rewards.

User avatar
Valecnik
Victor VI
Posts: 3828
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:28 pm
Personal Text: Edison Records - Close your eyes and see if the artist does not actually seem to be before you.
Location: Česká Republika
Contact:

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119

Post by Valecnik »

BRAVO!!!

Beautiful sounding too! I bet in an enclosed room it's amazing.

User avatar
Orchorsol
Victor IV
Posts: 1622
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:03 am
Location: Dover, UK
Contact:

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119

Post by Orchorsol »

A very nice find Garret, well done. The case looks in remarkably fine condition.
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?

User avatar
emgcr
Victor IV
Posts: 1087
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:57 am
Location: Hampshire, England.
Contact:

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119

Post by emgcr »

Well done Garret---a very fine effort and the case in particular looks fabulous. It is definitely an Expert Minor with the tonearm appearing from the back of the deckboard. I hope you will have many happy listening hours in the years ahead.

Frankia
Victor I
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:05 pm

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119

Post by Frankia »

Garret,
Congratulations on such a superb restoration job. It looks beautiful, and orchestral records really test Expert and EMG gramophones. It does a great job for the smallest of the Expert siblings.

Am I right in thinking that you were searching for a source for springs for the Paillard motor a good while back? Could I ask where you eventually found a maker? I'm now interested myself.
Best Wishes.

Garret
Victor IV
Posts: 1522
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:07 pm
Location: Lille, France

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119

Post by Garret »

Frankia wrote:Garret,
Congratulations on such a superb restoration job. It looks beautiful, and orchestral records really test Expert and EMG gramophones. It does a great job for the smallest of the Expert siblings.

Am I right in thinking that you were searching for a source for springs for the Paillard motor a good while back? Could I ask where you eventually found a maker? I'm now interested myself.
Best Wishes.
Frankia,

After about a year of searching, I found the Musée Baud, which was able to make the replacement springs for me. Send me an email, garret.girmus@gmail.com, and I can send you the details.

Garret

snallast
Victor II
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:11 pm
Location: Spain

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119 Expert Minor Gramophone

Post by snallast »

Thankyou for posting this extremely unusual find and excellent restoration! What a great-sounding machine! I had expected more "minor" but it seems the difference between the minor and the junior is not so big! Or for that matter the "big Papa"...

Congratulations!!

Garret
Victor IV
Posts: 1522
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:07 pm
Location: Lille, France

Re: Featured Phonograph No. 119 Expert Minor Gramophone

Post by Garret »

This wonderful machine is now available for sale on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151892145602

Thank you kindly for your consideration!

Garret

Post Reply